Re: Not good
@ moiety
"Yeah, but at the end of the day, a knife-wielder has to get close enough to stab you. That is a huge disadvantage to a gun-bearer who doesn't even have to be in the same kilometre (depending upon the type of gun)."
So lets assume not throwing the knife, or the many knives since everyone has a good supply and often openly on display. It worries me how people think they have a chance against a knife. All them wonderful combat ideas of blocking or defending yourself is generally bull, a knife fight is usually something closer to the speed of Seagal at the end of Under Seige. You will be shredded. So you run. Thats ok if your not old, frail, injured, weaker than the attacker, etc. Except there are a lot of those people around who CANT run away and CANT escape someone determined to kill people, and thats just with a knife!
"The main thrust of your arguments seem to be that knives are just as dangerous as guns; which is patently bollocks."
Of course not. Knives are more dangerous. People usually try to keep the guns away from nutters but we let them access knives without a thought. Easy to conceal, readily available, cheap, etc. Also the preference of serial killers.
"Not necessarily. Using a knife involves getting close in with attendant extra physical risk and increases chances of something going wrong. It's also messier. And more personal."
And cheap and easy to conceal. And hard to defend against.
"Not necessarily. They could be drunk, mental, desperate or anything else."
Exactly. And yet they can easily get a knife from home or avoid that risk and get one at their destination. Where doesnt have knives? They are everywhere. And if you base your whole hope on them being less in physical and mental capacity to the point of them being incapable then you are pretty screwed. A good example is the guys who broke into my grandparents house and the first thing they did was take a knife from their kitchen. Lucky they wernt in because they would have no chance (absolute zero).
"because using a knife offensively does require more skill than a gun"
I guess you have never fired a gun, never been to a range, never compared the difference. Kids can use knives. Pretty much any kid can use a knife. It is a problem for some schools and certainly a problem on the streets. No aim, no recoil, no technical ability to load/safety/cock, no nothing. Just slash or stab.
"incompetence of attacker; unexpected competence in attackee; useful scenery (stuff to hide behind/throw/get a good swing with); and bystanders."
Your hoping for incompetence? Ah. You hope the attackee is lucky + military trained? Ah. Run and hide from someone who put so much effort to close the distance? More hope with a shooter. And bystanders, who will watch assuming they notice a concealed weapon stabbing you silently. Nope.
"They had a gun; which somewhat negates your point. And the police turned up and shot them."
And nobody could do a thing until the police turned up and shot him. Nobody did anything until armed guy turns up and shot the attacker. People stood and watched the event and nobody acted. So much for your idea of bystanders. So much for criminals not being armed.